Stifling of dissent pushing Kashmiri youth to wall: Mirwaiz

Srinagar, March 3 (IANS) Chairman of the moderate faction of Hurriyat Mirwaiz Umer Farooq here on Thursday blamed the government for pushing talented and educated youth to pick up the gun.

“Stifling of dissent and democratic expression is now forcing talented and educated Kashmiri youth to the wall,” the Mirwaiz said.

Referring to a youth’s killing in Tral area of south Kashmir early Thursday, he said, “He excelled in studies. These youths are the future of Kashmir and they are opting for gun because the state is pushing them to the wall.”

Mirwaiz Umer released a documentary titled “Children in conflict-torn Kashmir” to highlight the tragedy of children affected by the turmoil.

The documentary was to be released on Wednesday, but “we were prevented from undertaking the democratic exercis”, he said.

The film based on the plight of the turmoil-hit children highlights the behaviour of the state police and the paramilitary forces.

Releasing the documentary at the uptown Rajbagh headquarters of Hurriyat, the Mirwaiz said, “Children are arrested, handcuffed and produced in courts. There is no juvenile justice system.”

The film will be screened in Geneva next week, where the 31st session of the United Nations Human Rights Council has started.

The 20-minute documentary shows both physical and psychological trauma suffered by children in Kashmir.